:30 in the morning. >> he was a guardian for his family and for america he was the defender of a dream. >> ted kennedy was elected to the senate in 1962, winning the seat vacated by his brother john. within six years, he inherited the family maniple -- mantle after the assassination of both of his brothers. biographers say he struggled with the family name and his own demons. the death of a friend near chappaquiddick with kennedy behind the wheel is a part of his personal history. his bid for the president's seat ended in defeat to jimmy carter. >> the work goes on, because endures, the pope still lives, and the dream shall never die. >> at kennedy is remembered as the lion of the senate. >> that every american, north, south, east, west, young, old, get decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege. >> aides to barack obama call kennedy's endorsement in 2008 pivotal. >> i am proud to stand with him here today and offer my help, offer my voice, offer my energy, my commitment to make barack obama the next president of the united states. >> today, as leaders around the wo